Oae shifting



(No Model.)

2 Sheets-Sheet 1. 'E J. A. GRIIPIT'HSh- A CAR SHIFTING APPLIANCE FOR PLEASURE RAILWAYS.

Nb. 548,159. A Patented-Oct. 15, 1895.

(No Model.) 5 v 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

J. A. GRIFFITHS. GAR SHIFT-ING APPLIANUB FOR PLEASURE RAILWAYSL No. 548,159. Patented Oct. 15, 1895;

UNITED STAT S PATENT- O ICE.

JAMES A. GRIFFITHS, OF PITTSBURG, AS SIGNOR TO ABRAHAM A. LANDIS,

OF COLLEGEVILLE, PENNSYLVANIA.

CAR-SHIFTING'APPLIANCE FOR PLEASURE-RAILWAYS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 548,159, dated Octeloer 1.5, 1895. Application filed $eptemher 9,1895. Serial No. 561,946- (No model.

To @513 whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, JAMES A. GRIFFITHS, a

citizen of the United States, residing at the way structure from one course to another thereof; and it relates, particularly, to the construction and arrangement of such an appliance and mechanism for said purpose.

The principal objects of my invention are, first, to provide a pleasure-railway atthe ter minal and starting points thereof with a platform to hold a car in required position and to permit of the shifting of the same, so as to transfer a car from one course to another without passengers having to alight therefrom; second, to provide in such appliance a locking device, bumper, and friction-block for retarding the speed and holding the car and with a shifting-lever rod-and-link mechanism for readily and safely transferring the appliance from one course to the other for another trip of the car loaded with passengers without their having to alight therefrom.

My invention, stated in general terms, consists of a car-shifting appliance for gravity pleasure and other elevated railways; and my invention further consists of the improvements in pleasure-railways as hereinafter described and claimed.

The'nature and scope of my invention will be more fully understood from the following description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, forming part hereof, and in which- Figure 1 is a perspective view of a section of an elevated gravity pleasure-railway structure with a car holding and shifting movable appliance, embodying features of my present invention in operative position with a car supported thereon and with one of the movable platforms without a car thereon, showing the locking device and friction-block thereof and lever-shifting link-and-rod mechanism for shifting the rail-platform for transferring .a car from one course to another; and Fig. 2 is a similar view showing one of the platforms on end in order to expose to view the leveroperating mechanism thereof and the pivotal and rolling connections of the same, adapted to be established with the elevated structure, and-in said view is also shown a platform in normal position with its locking device for holding a car-bumper and'a friction-block for retarding the motion of the car in its travel over or onto the platform and the lever-shifting link-and-rod mechanism for shifting the same to permit of the transfer of a car from one course to another of the elevated structure.

Referring to the drawings, A represents the elevated gravity or undulating track structure provided at the terminal or starting points thereof with a pavilion B, as shown.

C is a movable oblong platform provided with rails or tracks a 0, adapted to connect or be established with the rails a a of the elevated structure. This platform is provided at one end, at suitable distances apart, with traveler rolls or wheels 0' and 0 adapted to engage and travel over a curved or other shape fiat rail 0 fixed to the floor a of the pavilion or terminal point of the structure. At or about a center point of the opposite end of each platform 0 is provided a pivot 0 adapted to fit a socket-bearing 0 set into the fioor a, as clearly shown in Fig. 2 of the drawings.

D is the lever-shifting mechanism of each platform 0, consisting of a connecting rod or link d, movably connected at one end with the under side of each platform 0 and at the other with one arm at of a bell-crank lever D by a knuckle-joint d The shorter arm 01 of said lever D is pivotally connected with a longitudinal rod (1 The bell-crank lever by means of a pivot d engages a socket or bearing (1 set into the floor a of the pavilion or terminal point of the structure. The longitudinal rod d connected at one end to the shorter arm 61 of the bell-crank lever D, is at its opposite end pivoted to a vertical operatto permit of the shifting of the platform O fromone set of tracks a a of the main structure to another set to enable transfer of a car F for another trip without passengers having to alight from the same. On the floor a, as shown in Fig. 2, are placed cross-strips d and d forming bearers for the longitudinal rods (1 and longer arms d of the bell-crank levers D, and to insure a uniform action of the le- Vers comprising the shifting link-and-rod mechanism of the respective platforms C. On the upper surface of each platform is provided a friction-block G, as clearly shown to the left in Fig. 1, for retarding the motion of a car in its travel onto the platform prior to the contact of the wheels of the car with a bumper G and of the engagement of the rear end of the car with a Weighted locking device H. This device is pivoted to a standard It, as shown in Fig. 1, and has a weight h and a pivotal lever-arm 7L2, actuated by a treadle 72,3, and also has a dog or catch it at the front end of the device, which is adapted to engage a loop or eye secured to the end of a car F (not shown) in any well-understood manner.

It is of course to be understood that the weighted end of the locking device H will hold the car firmly in required position slightly inclined on the platform 0 during the shifting of the same by the lever-operating mechanism D to transfer the car from one set of tracks to another, when it can be released by depressing the treadle h operating the lever-arm h to overcome the weighted end 72/ of the. said device, and thereby to disengage the pawl or catch h from the loop or eye of the car F.

Having thus described the nature and objects of my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. In a pleasure railway structure, a pivotal platform provided with traveler rolls adapted to engage a cross-rail and locking device connected therewith, a car, and a lever shifting link-and-rod mechanism connected with said platform and fulcrumed to the structure and said lever adapted to engage and be disengaged from a rack, substantially as and for the purposes described.

2. In a pleasure railway structure, a pivotal rail platform having on the under side at one end traveler rolls adapted to engage a flat cross-rail, and a bumper, friction block and weighted locking device on the opposite side thereof, a car and a lever oscillating link-androd mechanism connected with said platform and fulcrumed to the structure and said lever adapted to engage and to be disengaged from a rack, substantially as and for the purposes described.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my signature in the presence of the subscribing witnesses.

JAMES A. GRIFFITHS. Witnesses:

H. T. MoRRIs, A. J. MALONEY, G. W. STAUFF. 

